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That sets up the Sox to pitch Josh Beckett (Friday), Franklin Morales (Saturday, Game 1), Felix Doubront (Saturday, Game 2) and Jon Lester (Sunday) against the Yankees this weekend.

From a matchup standpoint, that makes sense. Cook pitches to contact and against the Yankees at Fenway, that's potentially trouble. Better to pitch to contact against Oakland at Oakland Coliseum.

The Yankees also have only a little lower OPS against lefties (.780) than they do against righties (.792).

In other news:

• Mauro Gomez was called up and Daisuke Matsuzaka was put on the DL. Gomez has played 71 games at third base in the minors, but none since Single A ball in 2009. He's basically here as a righthanded hitting pinch hitter.

• RHP Justin Germano is on the way to Oakland. Once he arrives, RHP Clayton Mortensen is likely to be optioned. Adding Germano to the roster would require opening a spot on the 40-man roster, too.

• Will Middlebrooks is improving but is not yet on the field. Bobby Valentine said they can always back-date the DL stint if he has a setback, but they're hoping he can get on the field this weekend.

• John Lackey threw off the bullpen mound today. He's been in the pen four times as he comes back from Tommy John surgery. In theory, Lackey could be ready to pitch in a game come September. That might not be in the majors but he's coming back ahead of the usual schedule.